Heloise: Weatherize home for savings

Posted: Tuesday, January 09, 2007

Dear Readers: With colder weather here, now would be a great time to make sure your home is weatherized and insulated, which could also lead to a savings of up to 35 percent on your utility bill. Besides saving money (which we all want to do!), you might also get more years out of your heating system. Here are a few hints to get you started:

** Insulated window treatments can really make a difference in keeping cold temperatures out and warm heat in.

** Check for drafts, and weatherstrip any doors or windows that might be letting cold air in. Don't forget about fireplaces, electrical outlets, cabinets and other places where pipes or wires enter your home that might also need to be sealed - you can pack these areas with insulation or caulking.

** Every year, do an energy check to be sure your home's heating system is in good and safe working order.

- Heloise

Dear Heloise: I attend quite a few luncheons, dinners and events for my company. I am forever getting business cards from people I meet at these events. The problem is, after a week or so, I can't remember who the people were or sometimes where I met them. So, after arriving home or at my hotel room, I take a couple of minutes to write some information on the back of the card. I usually write the date, event, what the person and I discussed or an interesting fact about them (e.g., "golf," "sales" or "has three dogs"). This has come in quite handy when I needed to call that person. - Kelsey J., via fax

Dear Heloise: I work in a dental office and would like to offer a few hints for your readers to consider before going to a dental appointment.

Whether for a cleaning, tooth pain or just a checkup, it would be considerate if patients would brush their teeth right before their appointment. It's nice to see (and smell) someone with fresh breath and clean teeth in the chair. Also, with the new state regulations, etc., we must go through a rigorous and thorough cleaning and preparation between each patient. So help us: Be on time or even a little early, and use the restroom, brush your teeth or make the cell call before you are called into an examining room! - Anonymous, via e-mail

Send a money-saving or timesaving hint to Heloise, P.O. Box 795000, San Antonio, TX 78279-5000, or you can fax it to 210-HELOISE or e-mail it to Heloise@Heloise.com. I can't answer your letter personally but will use the best hints received in my column.